Lot 835

42ND INFANTRY DIVISION CAMOUFLAGE-PAINTED M1917 HELMET SHELL

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42ND INFANTRY DIVISION CAMOUFLAGE-PAINTED M1917 HELMET SHELL

Estimate: $200 - $300

Current Bid: $100

(1 Bid)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 30, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

42ND INFANTRY DIVISION CAMOUFLAGE-PAINTED M1917 HELMET SHELL
A fine example of a World War I U.S. soldier's M1917 steel combat helmet, hand-painted overall with a camouflage pattern of brown, gray, dark green and red, and displaying at the front the hand-painted insignia of the 42nd Infantry ‘Rainbow' Division. The liner and chinstrap are missing, although the felt pad within the crown is still present, and the rear interior skirt is heat-stamped with the batch number ‘Z F 41'. The helmet shell shows expected scuffs, scratches and general wear overall, otherwise in very good condition. The 42nd Infantry Division was raised as a composite National Guard unit with members from 26 states and the District of Colombia, and was granted its nickname by its chief of staff and future commander, Douglas MacArthur. It took part in the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, and Meuse-Argonne Campaigns, as well as the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. Insignia such as that seen on this helmet were typically added immediately after the Armistice by the owner or a talented artist in his division, and were worn during victory parades held across the country as the ‘doughboys' returned home.

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Shipping

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000